Colour 2018: PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet

January 8, 2018

9 min read

The Pantone Colour Institute is recognised across the world as a leading source of information about colour. Every year, its employees offer us a shade that, in their opinion, most fully reflects world trends and the current mood. So what awaits us in 2018?

Meet the provocative yet thoughtful shade PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet. It continues not only originality and ingenuity, but also deep thinking, and a glimpse into the future. I would call this colour one of the most controversial and contradictory, because on the one hand it is associated with club life, and on the other it is inevitable reminiscent of the mysteries of the cosmos, and pushes the mind to consider unknown civilisations. The colour of the vast and boundless night sky symbolises what, perhaps, continues to inspire the desire to explore the world(s) beyond our own.

The Pantone colour of the year has come to mean so much more than just what is happening in the world of design; it’s really a reflection of what is needed in our world today. – Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Colour Institute.

Balenciaga men’s show, spring 2018; Gucci, spring 2018; Marni, fall 2017

As people around the world become more and more passionate about colour and the desire to convey deep messages and meaning to the world, designers and brands are trying to facilitate this. To help jewellers who are searching for the source of PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra VIolet, in the coming year only a few jewellery materials will emerge in this rich purple hue, a rather unique shade. Many only have deep enamels, which can pass for almost any colour no matter who treats it, and some opals and natural tanzanite. Sapphires and spinels of a similar tonality are rare, and I would liken then to lilac rather than ultraviolet.

At one time, musical icons Prince, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix brought shades of ultraviolet to the vanguard of pop culture as an expression of personality, experimentation and creativity. It is, in fact, these three worlds that I would use to describe the pieces collected in this gallery.

Cartier

Cartier ring with carved gemstones in 18k pink gold, with rubellites, amethysts, garnets, onyx and diamonds

Bvlgari

Bvlgari ‘Serpenti Forever’ patent leather shoulder bag

Carrera y Carrera

Carrera y Carrera Nankin XL ring in 18k white-gold, with amethyst, demantoid garnets, green, yellow and white diamonds

Bovet

Bovet ‘The Château de Môtiers’ 40 flower bouquet watch with diamonds

Boucheron

Boucheron ‘Joy Amethyste’ ring in sugarloaf amethyst and diamond setting

Dior

Dior ‘Rose Dior Pré Catalan’ earrings in 18k pink gold with carved amethyst and diamonds

de Grisogono

de Grisogono ring in 18k rose gold, set with cabochon amethysts and brown diamonds

de Grisogono

de Grisogono ‘Grappoli’ watch in 18k white gold case, set with blue sapphires, diamonds and tanzanites

Boghossian

Boghossian ring and earring Art of Inlay set featuring diamond inlaid into amethyst

Damiani

Damiani ‘Anima’ collection masterpiece ring in 18k white gold with amethysts and diamonds

Chantecler Bells

Chantecler Bells selection of fine jewellery charms set in 18k white and yellow gold, with pink sapphires, amethyst and diamonds

Lydia Courteille

Lydia Courteille ‘Vendanges Tardives’ one of a kind cuff with tsavorites, brown diamonds, sapphires and faceted amethyst

Avakian

Avakian ‘Gatsby’ transformable drop earrings in white enamel with amethysts and diamonds

Chopard

Chopard ‘Imperiale’ drop earrings in 18k yellow gold with amethysts and diamonds

Cartier

Cartier High Jewellery cuff in 18k white gold, amethysts and diamonds

Mattioli

Mattioli ring in 18K black gold with amethyst, pink sapphires, and tsavorites

Stephen Webster

Stephen Webster ‘Deco-Haze’ drop earrings set in 18k white gold with amethyst, pink sapphires and black diamonds

Hueb

Hueb ‘Luminus’ drop earrings in 18k white gold with tanzanite and diamonds

Van Cleef & Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels ‘Oiseaux Enchantes’ Colibri Indigo watch with diamonds

Fabergé

Fabergé spiral pendant, with diamonds and amethyst beads

Nirav Modi

Nirav Modi ‘Seven Seas’ drop earrings in tanzanite and diamond

Henry Dakak Jr.

Henry Dakak Jr. ‘Dynasty’ ring in 18k yellow gold with tanzanite and diamonds

Suzanne Syz

Suzanne Syz one-of-a-kind ring in titanium, with pink topaz and diamonds

Nadine Aysoy

Nadine Aysoy ‘Elle et Lui’ ring in white 18K gold with 2 baguette-cut amethyst 5.35ct., 1 white south sea pearl 14.5mm, 46 round-cut diamonds 0.35ct.

Pasquale Bruni

Pasquale Bruni Taj ring in 18k pink gold with quartz and amethyst

Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany & Co. ‘Soleste’ rings, featuring cushion, round brilliant and pear cut tanzanite with diamond halo settings

Ritz Fine Jewellery

Ritz Fine Jewellery Quatrefoil necklace with cabochon tanzanite, pink sapphires and diamonds

WORDS

Katerina Perez is a jewellery insider, journalist and brand consultant with more than 15 years’ experience in the jewellery sector. Paris-based, Katerina has worked as a freelance journalist and content editor since 2011, writing articles for international publications. To share her jewellery knowledge and expertise, Katerina founded this website and launched her @katerina_perez Instagram in 2013.

JEWELLERY TYPE:

Watches Ring Necklace Earrings Cuff

BRANDS: